Scottish small-ship operator The Majestic Line has been sold, allowing 80-year-old co-founder Ken Grant to return to his main job of helping fight diseases around the world.
New owner Craig of Campbeltown Limited says it plans ‘no change to the operation and management’ of the Argyll-based cruise line, which Ken and friend Andy Thoms set up in 2004.
As an epidemiologist, Ken has worked as a public health consultant in more than 30 developing countries – a background that helped The Majestic Line become one of the first cruise companies to restart operations in August 2020 following the Covid pandemic.
Named after a fictional line in the TV series Para Handy, the business began 20 years ago with an 11-passenger converted fishing vessel, Glen Massan, followed by a sister ship, Glen Tarsan, in 2007. Ken and Andy then commissioned two purpose-built 12-passenger vessels – Glen Etive in 2016 and Glen Shiel in 2019.
The Majestic Line came to national attention in 2017 when singer and TV presenter Jane McDonald burst into song in Fingal’s Cave on Staffa while sailing on Glen Tarsan for her Channel 5 cruise series.
In 2022, the company experimented with an even smaller boat, the four-passenger Glen Orchy, which it withdrew after one season. Then last year it bought the six-berth Glen Rosa, which had a major overhaul during the winter. The fleet sails itineraries from Oban around the Western Isles.
Jane McDonald singing in Fingal’s Cave during a Majestic Line cruise (Picture: Channel 5) ; Ken Grant receiving a Sailawaze award for sustainability (Picture: Dave Monk)
While Andy has been retired for some years, the sale means Ken will now be able to hand over the reins of running the business to concentrate on his work in disease prevention.
Ken, who recently picked up a Sailawaze award for sustainability, told me: ‘It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with Andy to grow The Majestic Line and meet so many happy clients over the years. After 20 years it is time to hand it over to a new owner who can continue to grow and develop the company and to share the delights of the Scottish west coast.’
Ken Grant and one of The Majestic Line’s small ships, Glen Etive (Pictures: The Majestic Line)
Family-owned CCL runs a range of transport and tourism services in Scotland and North Northumberland including West Coast Motors, Borders Buses, City Sightseeing Glasgow and Bute, Kintyre Express and West Coast Tours.
A spokesperson said they were ‘excited about this new chapter’ adding: ‘The acquisition will create synergies and opportunities for both businesses to grow and innovate. We believe by combining our strengths, we can offer more value, choice and convenience to our customers and stakeholders.’
Personal note from Dave Monk: I’ve sailed on the biggest and most luxurious cruise ships in the world but I have a special fondness for The Majestic Line, with its friendly crew, small boats and wonderfully scenic itineraries. I wish Ken all the best for his future and will raise a dram to him on his 81st birthday when I sail on Glen Etive later this month.
See also:
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